Fingernail jewelry

ABSTRACT

Jewelry for fingernails and toenails that is removably but securely attachable to a natural or artificial nail, such as false fingernails. The fingernail jewelry comprises a nail plate that attaches to the distal end and/or sides of the nail. The nail plate has an upper portion and a lower portion defining a cavity at the first end of the nail plate. The distal end and/or sides of the nail is received in the cavity. In one embodiment, the cavity tightly holds the nail to prevent the fingernail jewelry from being easily dislodged. In another embodiment, an adhesive secures the nail plate to the nail. In yet another embodiment, connectors pass through the nail plate and threadably attach to the nail. The connector heads are incorporated into a design element. In a further embodiment, stud members extend downward from the nail plate into apertures on the nails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses andprocesses for decorating or adorning fingernails, whether natural orartificial, with artwork and/or jewelry. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to such apparatuses and processes that are simple toutilize, relatively low cost and reusable. Even more particularly, thepresent invention relates to fingernail apparatuses and processes thatutilize a decorative nail plate which is configured to be received on afingernail and secured thereto with a connector, a post or an adhesive.

B. Background

The enhancement or modification of fingernails to improve theirappearance and that of the person generally is well known and practicedby many people, although primarily women. One such very commonmodification is to color or paint the fingernails with fingernail polishand other materials so as to enhance or change the color of the naturalfingernail. Another very common and desirable modification is to havelonger length fingernails such that the fingernail tips extends somedistance past the end of the person's fingers. Many people considercolored and longer length fingernails to enhance femininity and beauty.Unfortunately, use of the hands and fingers for common everydayactivities, such as cleaning, typing, handling various materials and thelike, make it very difficult to maintain the desired polish or length ofthe fingernails. As is well known, such activities tend to break, tear,scar or otherwise damage a person's fingernails, thereby taking awayfrom the desired femininity or beauty enhancement. Due in part to thedifficulty associate with maintaining fingernails in the desiredaesthetic condition, an entire sector of the cosmetic industry hasdeveloped that specializes in taking care of a person's fingernails. Inaddition, although a number of people at least attempt to take care oftheir own fingernails, many people go to nail or beauty salons and thelike that have manicurists who trim, file, polish and decorate aperson's fingernails.

Although the visual “look” of the fingernails can be changed relativelyeasy by removing any existing fingernail polish and applying newfingernail polish on the fingernails, growing long fingernails takessome time. The difficultly in growing and maintaining long fingernailshas led to a number of artificial fingernail attachments that, wheninstalled on the fingernails, longitudinally extends the length of theperson's natural fingernail. Generally, the devices for extending thenatural length of the fingernails comprise acrylic or press-onfingernail extensions that are attached through adhesives to theperson's natural fingernail. Once attached, the fingernail extension isthen trimmed, filed and polished, in much the same way as long naturalfingernails. One advantage of artificial fingernails is that, dependingon the manner or materials used to attach the fingernail extensions, theperson can have longer fingernails for the weekend, weekday socialengagement or other activity when desired, and then remove them when thelonger fingernails are no longer desired or are inappropriate.

In addition to merely coloring the fingernails or utilizing artificialfingernails, a number of different devices and methods of enhancing ormodifying the fingernails are also well known. For instance, nailartists are available to paint designs on a person's fingernails. Thesedesigns can be from simple lines and other geometric shapes tosophisticated and elaborate designs incorporating a variety of animals,plant and other figures. Needless to say, to obtain a well done designrequires the skills of a person of sufficient artistic ability. As such,the use of such a method of fingernail enhancement is somewhat limitedby the availability and cost of such artists. In addition to artwork, itis also well known to adorn the fingernails with rhinestones, gems orjewels by adhering the material to the fingernail. As one would expect,this can be a time consuming process. The use of stencils to applydesigns to fingernails is a well known alternative to the skills of anartist. Fingernail stencils are typically provided in a sheet thatrequires the applier to lift the stencil from the sheet, remove thecutout (the design) from the stencil and then press the stencil on thefingernails at the desired position(s). Once the stencil is attached,the person then applies the desired nail art color over the stencil,allows the material to set, carefully removes the stencil and thenapplies a topcoat and bonder over the entire fingernail. The use ofdecals and striping tape is also well known. For this method offingernail enhancement, the striping tape and decals are placed in thedesired position, pressed down firmly against the fingernail and then atopcoat and bonder is applied over the striping tape and decals. Ifdesired, rhinestones are placed on the fingernails and then sealed witha topcoat and bonder. Another method of enhancing fingernails isdirected towards a French manicure style and comprises applying abasecoat to the fingernail, placing a white tip guide onto thefingernails just below the desired white tip area, applying a white nailpolish to the area above the guide, allowing the polish to dry, peelingoff the guide and then covering the entire fingernail with a sheer colortopcoat. Use of jewelry to enhance the fingernails is also well known. Acommon method of attaching jewelry to fingernails involves the use of aspecially configured nail drill that is used to drill a hole in thefingernail and then placing the post of the jewelry through the drilledhole, tightening a hex nut onto the post from below and then cutting thepost off close to the nut with post cutters. Various combinations of theforegoing are also well known.

A number of prior art patents have addressed various issues with regardto enhancing or modifying fingernails. For instance, U.S. Pat. No.5,975,087 to Jang describes an artificial nail overlay that isconfigured with a picture or pattern offset-printed on a fabric striphaving an adhesive coated on the opposite surface of the fabric strip.U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,989 to Abraskin describes a fingernail adornmentthat comprises a selected display object, such as a charm or the like,that is spaced apart and interconnected to the fingernail by anominally-sized chain that is attached to the fingernail with anadhesive in a manner that enables the display object to move in adangling manner. U.S. Pat. No. 1,238,046 to Nuss describes a fingernailornament that comprises a plate at the end of the fingernail andutilizes a spring tongue configuration to secure the plate to thefingernail. U.S. Pat. No. D445,542 to Dubnicka discloses a removablefingernail ring and charm holder that is similar in concept to a ringfor pieced ear. U.S. Pat. No. 2,013,290 to Rohrbach describes afingernail device that is in the shape of a crescent that fits over thetip of the fingernail. U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,935 to Mast, et al. describesan artificial fingernail formed of a polymer plastic having lightdiffusing means in the front or tip end portion of the artificialfingernail to obtain a natural appearing contrast between the frontportion of the fingernail and the back portion of the fingernail. U.S.Pat. No. 6,394,100 to Chang describes an ornamental fingernail overlayhaving reusable, pressure-sensitive layer on the bottom surface thereof,which is textured to enhance the adhesion of the adhesive layer. U.S.Pat. No. 6,382,217 to Coker, et al. describes a process for fabricatingcustom fit removable and reusable false metal fingernails. U.S. Pat. No.5,309,365 to Sullivan, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,724 to Takamidescribe systems and devices for sensing the contours and shape of aperson's fingernail for placement of a decorative design or pattern onthe fingernail, either directly on the fingernail or by way of amaterial having an adhesive layer thereon.

While the foregoing prior art and patents describe a variety ofdifferent devices and methods of enhancing or modifying fingernails,there is a need for an improved device and method. Initially, theforegoing have generally been available for a number of years and aresomewhat stale from a fashion sense or at least their popularity issomewhat limited. In addition, a number of the prior art devices andmethods are not easy for an individual to place on their own fingernail,particularly when placement on the fingernails of the dominant hand aredesired, thereby requiring the person to utilize his or her lessdominant hand to adorn the fingernails of the dominant hand. Inaddition, a number of the prior art devices are not readily reusable,therefore requiring the consumer to buy fresh supplies each time he orshe desires to enhance their fingernails. Many of the prior art devicesand methods are somewhat awkward, tedious and require a number ofdifferent steps to place on the fingernail, thereby being quite timeconsuming to apply. Certain of the prior art devices and methods ofenhancing or modifying fingernails are best accomplished by professionalmanicurists, which is known to be somewhat costly and require the personto set aside sufficient amount of time to have the tasks completed,including whatever travel or waiting time is necessary.

What is needed, therefore, is fingernail jewelry that is easier andfaster to apply and configured such that most individuals will be ableto enhance or modify their own fingernails without the need of aprofessional manicurist, thereby reducing the cost of enhancing ormodifying the fingernails. The improved fingernail jewelry should beadaptable to a wide variety of different designs, configurations andmaterials, including the use of gold, silver and other metals andprecious or semi-precious gems or other jewels. The improved fingernailjewelry should be removable and reusable to further reduce the cost ofapplying the fingernail jewelry to the person's fingernails. Thefingernail jewelry should be adaptable to both natural and artificialfingernails, including acrylic and press-on nails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fingernail jewelry of the present invention provides the benefitsand solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the presentinvention discloses fingernail jewelry that enables most people toeasily and quickly enhance and modify their own fingernails without theneed to attend and pay for an appointment with a professionalmanicurist. As such, the present invention reduces the cost and amountof time necessary to enhance and modify a person's fingernails. Inaddition, the fingernail jewelry of the present invention furtherreduces the cost of enhancing fingernails by being reusable. Thefingernail jewelry of the present invention is adaptable to both naturaland artificial fingernails and can be made out of a wide variety ofdifferent materials in a wide variety of different designs andconfigurations. The fingernail jewelry is adaptable for use withvirtually all types of precious, semi-precious and artificial gems andjewels.

In one general aspect of the present invention, the fingernail jewelryof the present invention is configured for placement on a fingernail,natural or artificial, having a proximal end near the cuticles, anopposite distal end and a pair of opposing sides. The fingernail jewelrycomprises a nail plate having a first end, a second end and a pair ofopposing sides. The nail plate has an upper portion that is placed abovethe fingernail and a lower portion that extends below the fingernail tohelp hold the nail plate in place and prevent the fingernail jewelryfrom flopping around. The upper portion and lower portion of the nailplate form a cavity at the first end thereof that receives the distalend of the fingernail. The nail plate can be made out of a variety ofmaterials, including gold and/or silver, and in a nearly infinite numberof designs that utilize both positive and negative spacing, includingvarious geometric, animal or other figure designs. Design elements, suchas stars, flowers or other objects and enhancement materials, such asdiamonds, rubies, cubic zirconium, cut glass and the like, can furtheradorn the outer surface of the upper portion of the nail plate.

The fingernail jewelry also includes an attachment mechanism forsecurely attaching the fingernail jewelry to the fingernail. In oneembodiment, the fingernail and cavity are cooperatively sized andconfigured such the distal end of the fingernail is tightly receivedinside the cavity to prevent the fingernail jewelry from being easilydislodged or knocked off of the fingernail. In this configuration, thelower surface of the upper portion and the upper surface of the lowerportion are in abutting relation with the top and bottom sides of thefingernail. In another embodiment, an adhesive is disposed between thedistal end and the sides of the fingernail and the cavity to secure thefingernail jewelry on the fingernail. The adhesive can be applied to thefingernail and/or the cavity and should be of the type that isdissolvable with a commonly available and utilized solvent, such as nailpolish remover. In another embodiment, the nail plate is secured ontothe fingernail by one or more connectors, such as small screws or bolts,that extend through the nail plate and into the fingernail. Fingernailapertures can be located on the fingernail to receive the connectors.Preferably, the apertures on the fingernail jewelry can be incorporatedinto a design element thereon such that it is not easily discernablethat the connector is utilized. In one configuration, the head of theconnector is attached to an enhancement material to further hide theconnector in the design. The process of installing the fingernailjewelry on a fingernail includes the use of a template to locate thefingernail apertures and identify any trim area at the distal end thatneeds to be cut, filed or otherwise removed to provide a fingernailshaped and configured with a distal end that fits well into the cavityof the nail plate. The present invention is also suitable for use withtoenails.

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is toprovide fingernail jewelry that has the advantages discussed above andthat overcomes the disadvantages and limitations which are associatedwith presently available fingernail jewelry.

It is an important objective of the present invention to providefingernail jewelry for enhancing or modifying fingernails that isrelatively easy and quick to install so that most users thereof will beable to install it themselves to reduce or eliminate the costs and timeassociated with having professional manicurists enhance or modify theirfingernails.

It is also an important objective of the present invention to providefingernail jewelry that is removable and reusable.

It is also an important objective of the present invention to providefingernail jewelry that is adaptable for both natural and artificialnails, including acrylic and press-on nails.

It is also an important objective of the present invention to providefingernail jewelry that can be manufactured out of a wide variety ofdifferent materials and in a wide variety of different designs that canincorporate many different types of jewels, gems, rhinestones,artificial materials and the like, such that the decoration is inherentin the nail jewelry.

The above and other objectives of the present invention will beexplained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and thedescription of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forthherein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form,construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presentlydescribed and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the bestmodes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top exploded view of one embodiment of the fingernailjewelry configured according to the principles of the present inventionshowing the use of connectors to attach the fingernail jewelry to thefingernail;

FIG. 2 is a proximal end view of the fingernail jewelry shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the fingernail jewelry shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the fingernail jewelry of FIG. 1 installedon the fingernail;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternatively configured fingernail jewelryof the present invention installed on a fingernail;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another alternatively configured fingernailjewelry of the present invention installed on a fingernail;

FIG. 7 is a top view of another alternatively configured fingernailjewelry of the present invention installed on a fingernail;

FIG. 8 is a proximal end view of an alternative configuration for thefingernail jewelry of the present invention showing the use of a pair ofattached stud members affixed to and extending generally downwardly fromthe fingernail jewelry; and

FIG. 9 is top view of a fingernail having a fingernail jewelry templateconfigured according to the principles of the present invention placedthereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given likenumerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of thepresent invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiment ofthe fingernail jewelry of the present invention that is illustrated inthe figures, various preferred embodiments of the present invention areset forth below. The enclosed description and drawings are merelyillustrative of various alternative embodiments and represent onlyseveral different ways of configuring the present invention. Althoughspecific components, materials, configurations and uses of the presentinvention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should beunderstood that a number of variations to the components and to theconfiguration of the components described herein and in the accompanyingfigures can be made without changing the scope and function of theinvention set forth herein. For purposes of this disclosure, referencesare generally to use of the jewelry of the present invention withfingernails, however, it will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art that the disclosure herein is not so limited as the jewelry ofthe present invention is also useful, if desired, for toenails.

Fingernail jewelry that is manufactured out of the components andconfigured pursuant to the concepts and principles of the presentinvention is shown generally as 10 in the figures. As shown in FIG. 1,fingernail jewelry 10 is configured for use with a fingernail 12, whichcan be a natural fingernail or an artificial fingernail (such as thosewhich are acrylic or press-on nails), or a toenail. Fingernail 12 has adistal end 14 that is the tip of fingernail 12 and a proximal end 16that is generally adjacent to or towards the cuticles of fingernail 12.As those skilled in the art know, the proximal end 16 of an artificialfingernail 12 may or may not be adjacent to the cuticles of fingernail12 depending on where the user adheres the artificial fingernail to thenatural fingernail. Fingernail jewelry 10 comprises nail plate 18 formedinto upper portion 20 and lower portion 22 with first end 24 which, wheninstalled on fingernail 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, is positionedgenerally adjacent distal end 14 of fingernail 12 and second end 26which is positioned generally towards, though not usually at, proximalend 16 of fingernail 12. Upper portion 20 of nail plate 18 has topsurface 28 and bottom surface 30 and lower portion 22 of nail plate 18has top surface 32 and bottom surface 34, as shown in FIG. 2. As alsobest shown in FIG. 2, upper portion 20 and lower portion 22 arecooperatively configured to form cavity 36 therebetween at first end 24of fingernail jewelry 10, in which the distal end 14 of fingernail 12 isreceived when fingernail jewelry 10 is placed on fingernail 12. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, cavity 36 extends around to thesides 38 and 40 of fingernail jewelry 10, as best shown in FIG. 3. Thesides 38 and 40 of fingernail jewelry 10 are sized and configured toreceive sides 42 and 44, shown in FIG. 1, of fingernail 12. As shown inFIG. 2, nail plate 18 is sized and configured, such as with thecurvilinear shape, such that distal end 14 of fingernail 12 fits withincavity 36 between upper portion 20 and lower portion 22 of fingernailjewelry 10. This may require providing fingernail jewelry 10 withdifferent sized cavities 36, such as small, medium and large, fordifferent thickness of fingernails 12 and/or the trimming of distal end14 of fingernails 12 to fit inside of cavity 36. Lower portion 22 ofnail plate 18 helps hold fingernail jewelry 10 in place and preventundesirable movement (i.e., flopping around) of the fingernail jewelry.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, nail plate 18 iscooperatively sized and configured with fingernail 12, as set forthbelow, such that fingernail 12 conforms to the shape of fingernailjewelry 10 so that it fits snugly into cavity 36. In one configuration,the bottom surface 30 of upper portion 20 abuttingly engages the topside of fingernail 12 and the top surface 32 of lower portion 22abuttingly engages the bottom side of fingernail 12. When properlyconfigured, the sides 38 and 40 of fingernail jewelry 10 will tightlyengage the sides 42 and 44, respectively, of fingernail 12. In analternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attachmentmechanism is utilized to fixedly attach fingernail jewelry 10 tofingernail 12. For instance, and adhesive 46 can be placed in cavity 36prior to placement of fingernail jewelry 10 on fingernail 12 (i.e., bythe insertion of distal end 14 into cavity 36). Preferably, adhesive 46is of the quick dry type of nail glue utilized in various prior artfingernail decorative devices and methods. This type of adhesive 46 isgenerally provided in a dispenser that is suitable for directingadhesive 46 towards cavity 36 of fingernail jewelry 10 or onto distalend 14 of fingernail 12, is known to bond well with the materials offingernail 12 and fingernail jewelry 10 and is easily unbonded orseparated with the use of an acetone-type nail polish remover of thetype that is utilized to remove nail polish.

As will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, nail plate 18can be made out of a wide variety of materials or combinations ofmaterials, with gold, silver and other precious metals likely being themost popular, and in wide variety of designs, a few samples of which areshown in FIGS. 4 through 7. The designs for nail plate 18 canincorporate positive and negative space, symmetric designs, scrolldesigns and various curved or angular shapes. In addition, to the basicdesign configuration, fingernail jewelry 10 can also comprise one ormore design elements, examples of which are shown as 48 in the figures,placed on nail plate 18. A wide variety of configurations are alsoavailable for design elements 48. If desired, one or more enhancingmaterials 50, such as jewels or other precious, semi-precious ornon-precious items, including diamonds, rubies, rhinestones, cubiczirconium or cut glass, can also be placed on nail plate 18. Enhancingmaterials 50 can be incorporated into design elements 48, as shown inFIG. 5. The materials for nail plate 18, the designs which nail platecan be configured, the design elements 48 and the enhancing materials 50which can be utilized with fingernail jewelry 10 of the presentinvention are virtually unlimited. As will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art, however, some materials may be more costly, harderto work with or fragile compared to others, particularly depending onthe design chosen for nail plate 18 or design element 48.

As set forth above, a method of attaching fingernail jewelry 10 tofingernail 12 is to size and configure it to snugly fit onto distal end14 and sides 42 and 44 of fingernail 12 or, in an alternative to or inconjunction therewith, to utilize adhesive 46 inside cavity 36 to attachfingernail jewelry 10 to fingernail 12. A more preferred attachmentmechanism for attaching fingernail jewelry 10 to fingernail 12 is theuse of one or more connectors 52, shown in FIG. 1, that are configuredto engagedly connect nail plate 18 to fingernail 12. Connectors 52 canbe screw, bolt or like elements that engage fingernail 12. Preferably,the use of connectors 52 are incorporated into the design or designelements 48 on nail plate 18 such that their utilitarian function is notobvious to the casual observer. For instance, design elements 48 can beprovided with an aperture 54 therein that is sized to allow the postmember 56 of connector to pass through and engage fingernail 12. Thehead member 58 of connector 52 can be shaped and configured (i.e., bychoosing the appropriate material or colors) such that it “blends” withdesign element 48 or resembles a diamond or other favorable component.If desired, the head member 58 of connector 52 can have one or moredecorative stones imbedded thereon or be configured to cooperativelyengage a charm or other item. Fingernail 12 can be provided with a likenumber of fingernail apertures 60 configured to receive the post member56 of connector 52. In one configuration, fingernail apertures 60 canpass entirely through fingernail 12 or only extend part way intofingernail 12 as a start for receiving connector 52. With naturalfingernails 12, it is likely not preferred to have to drill a holeentirely through fingernail 12 due to the risk of injury to the fingerunderneath fingernail 12. Artificial fingernails 12 can be provided withfingernail apertures 60 prior to attachment to the natural fingernail soas to avoid this risk of injury. If connector 52 is of the self-tappingscrew type of connecting element, it may only be necessary to provide aslight indentation into fingernail 12 to provide a start for theinsertion of post 56 of connector 52. In any such configuration,fingernail jewelry 10 should be sufficiently attached to fingernail 12such that incidental contact against fingernail jewelry 10 or fingernail12 will not dislodge fingernail jewelry 10 from fingernail 12.

In an alternative configuration for fingernail jewelry 10, shown in FIG.8, the attachment mechanism comprises one or more generally downwardlyextending stud members 62 that are configured to engage a like number offingernail apertures 60. As shown, stud members 62 protrude from thelower surface 34 of lower portion 22 of nail plate 18 to engagefingernail apertures 60 when fingernail jewelry 10 is placed onfingernail 12. Preferably, stud members 62 are sized and configured tobe tightly received in fingernail apertures 60 such that fingernailjewelry 10 is secured onto fingernail 12 in a manner that it is noteasily disengaged by incidental contact against fingernail jewelry 10 orfingernail 12 while the user is wearing fingernail jewelry 10. As willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art, stud members 62 canbe molded with fingernail jewelry 10 as part of the process of makingnail plate 18 or they can be welded, glued or otherwise securelyattached to nail plate 18 after it is manufactured. If desired, studmembers 62 and fingernail apertures 60 can be configured such that studmembers 62 are merely inserted into apertures 60 without being tightlyengaged thereby. To protect against loss of fingernail jewelry 10 inthis configuration, it is preferred that adhesive 46 also be utilized.

Due to the need to pre-drill fingernail apertures 60 into fingernails 12with the use of either connector 52 or stud member 62 attachmentmechanisms, it is important to ensure that the location for fingernailapertures 60 are carefully positioned. The use of cavity 36 at the firstend 24 and sides 38, 40 of fingernail jewelry 10, which is in engagedrelation with the distal end 14 and sides 42, 44 of fingernail 12,requires that the position of fingernail apertures 60 be set relative tothe distal end 14 and sides 42, 44 of fingernail 12. Although properpositioning can be obtained through careful measurements, it ispreferred that template 64 be provided, as shown in FIG. 9, having oneor more template apertures 66 that are numbered and positioned incooperation with apertures 54 on design elements 48 or elsewhere on nailplate 18. Template apertures 66 are sized to receive a drill bit orother hole means for forming fingernail apertures 60, which only has tobe deep enough to receive post member 56 or stud member 62 (butpreferably not through the fingernail 12 so as to protrude on the fingerside of the fingernail). As it is necessary for the distal end 14 andsides 38, 40 of fingernail 12 to be properly received in cavity 36 offingernail jewelry 10, template 64 is also configured to identify trimarea 68 on fingernail 12 that the user should cut, file or otherwiseremove so as to obtain the proper shape to correspond with first end 24and sides 43, 44 of fingernail 12. As shown in FIG. 9, template isplaced on fingernail 12 at the location where fingernail jewelry 10 isdesired, held in place by tape, adhesive (i.e., press-on type ofconfiguration) or otherwise by holding it still and then fingernailapertures 60 are formed and trim area 68 removed. Once fingernail 12 isconfigured, template 64 is removed and fingernail jewelry 10 isattached.

As stated above, fingernail jewelry 10 of the present invention can bemanufactured out of a variety of different materials and in a nearlyinfinite variety of designs with designs elements 48 and enhancingmaterials thereon. Fingernail jewelry 10 can comprise a variety ofdifferent shapes, such as curved or square ends, and should be providedin different sizes for different sized fingernails 12. In use, the userplaces template 64 on fingernail 12 where use of fingernail jewelry 10is desired. With template 64 in place, using a press-on or other type ofarrangement, the user will remove trim area 68 by cutting and/or filingaway that portion of fingernail 12. If the attachment mechanism forfingernail jewelry 10 is of the type having one or more connectors 52 orstud members 62, then the user will drill or otherwise provide one ormore fingernail apertures 60 by utilizing the like number of templateapertures 66. Once fingernail 12 is properly shaped and provided withapertures 60, the user removes template 64 and prepares to placefingernail jewelry 10 on fingernail 12. If adhesive 46 is to beutilized, with or without the use of connectors 52 or stud members 62,then the user applies the adhesive, such as quick dry nail glue, toinside cavity 36 of nail plate 18 and/or at the distal end 14 offingernail 12. The distal end 14 of fingernail 12 is slid into cavity 36to engage the distal end 14 and sides 42, 44 of fingernail 12 with thefirst end 24 and sides 38, 40 of fingernail jewelry 10. If connectors 52are utilized, the user inserts connectors 52 through apertures 54 onfingernail jewelry 10, which may or may not be incorporated into adesign element 48, to engage the previously provided fingernail aperture60 and secure fingernail jewelry 10 in place on fingernail 12. If studmembers 62 are utilized, then the user will insert distal end 14 intocavity 36, which will preferably have adhesive 46 therein, in a mannerthat facilitates stud members 62 engaging fingernail apertures 60. Iffingernail apertures 60 are sized to tightly receive stud members 62,then adhesive 46 may not be required. For removal of fingernail jewelry10, the user removes any connectors 52 and then uses a fingernail polishremover or other appropriate solvent to dissolve any adhesive 46 anddisengage fingernail jewelry 10 from fingernail 12.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the fingernail jewelry 10 of thepresent invention provides a less expensive way of enhancing ormodifying one's fingernails 12 by reducing or eliminating the need tohave installation by a professional manicurist or other nail assistance,thereby eliminating that cost and the time necessary for theappointment. The fingernail jewelry 10 is also less expensive due to isreusable nature. Because it can be manufactured out of a wide variety ofmaterials and designs, the user can select materials and a design whichis most personal and/or unique to them. In addition to servingdecorative purposes, the fingernail jewelry 10 also protects the tip ofthe fingernail 12 from damage, such as chipping, tearing, breaking orbending, that typically occurs to longer fingernails from dailyactivities. The fingernail jewelry 10 can be used on one or allfingernails 12 or on one or more toenails, as desired by the user.

While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternativeforms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible tovarious modifications and rearrangements in design and materials withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, itshould be noted that the present invention is subject to modificationwith regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein andmodifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. Forinstance, there are numerous components described herein that can bereplaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish theobjectives of the present invention.

1. A fingernail jewelry for use on a nail having a distal end and a pairof opposing sides, said fingernail jewelry comprising: a nail platehaving a first end, a second end and a pair of opposing sides, said nailplate further comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, saidupper portion and said lower portion defining a cavity at said first endand/or said opposing sides of said nail plate, said cavity configured toreceive said distal end and/or said opposing sides of said nail; andmeans for securing said nail plate to said nail.
 2. The fingernailjewelry according to claim 1, wherein said nail plate comprises one ormore apertures and said securing means is one or more connectorsreceived through said apertures into said nail.
 3. The fingernailjewelry according to claim 2, wherein said one or more connectors arethreadably received into said nail.
 4. The fingernail jewelry accordingto claim 2, wherein said one or more apertures are located in a designelement on said upper portion of said nail plate.
 5. The fingernailjewelry according to claim 2, wherein said one or more connectors have ahead member and a post member, said head member configured with anenhancing element, said post member configured to pass through saidapertures and threadably engage said nail.
 6. The fingernail jewelryaccording to claim 1, wherein said upper portion has an upper surfaceand a lower surface and said lower portion has a upper surface and alower surface, said cavity disposed between said lower surface of saidupper portion and said upper surface of said lower portion, said lowersurface of said upper portion and said upper surface of said lowerportion configured to tightly engage said distal end of said nail. 7.The fingernail jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said securing meansis an adhesive disposed between said distal end and/or said sides ofsaid nail and said cavity of said nail plate.
 8. The fingernail jewelryaccording to claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises at least onestud member extending generally downwardly from said nail plate and atleast one fingernail aperture in said nail, said fingernail apertureconfigured to received said stud member therein.
 9. The fingernailjewelry according to claim 8, wherein said fingernail aperture is sizedand configured to tightly receive said stud member therein and hold saidnail plate on said nail.
 10. The fingernail jewelry according to claim8, wherein said securing means further comprises an adhesive disposedbetween said distal end and/or said sides of said nail and said cavityof said nail plate.
 11. The fingernail jewelry according to claim 1,wherein said upper portion of said nail plate has an upper surface, saidupper surface having one or more design elements and/or one or moreenhancing elements thereon.
 12. A fingernail jewelry for use on a nailhaving a distal end and a pair of opposing sides, said fingernailjewelry comprising: a nail plate having a first end, a second end and apair of opposing sides, said nail plate further comprising an upperportion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portiondefining a cavity at said first end and/or said opposing sides of saidnail plate, said cavity configured to receive said distal end and/orsaid opposing sides of said nail, said upper portion of said nail platehaving an upper surface, said upper surface having one or more designelements and/or one or more enhancing elements thereon; one or moreapertures on said nail plate; and one or more connectors receivedthrough said apertures and threadably engage said nail.
 13. Thefingernail jewelry according to claim 12, wherein one of said one ormore apertures are located in at least one of said design elements. 14.The fingernail jewelry according to claim 12, wherein said one or moreconnectors have a head member and a post member, said head memberconfigured with an enhancing element, said post member configured topass through said apertures and threadably engage said nail.
 15. Amethod of installing fingernail jewelry on a nail having a distal endand a pair of opposing sides, said method comprising the steps of: a)placing a template on said nail at the position desired for saidfingernail jewelry; b) identifying a trim area on said nail to beremoved therefrom; c) removing said trim area from said nail; d)removing said template from said nail; e) placing a nail plate of saidfingernail jewelry on said nail, said nail plate having an upper portionand a lower portion defining a cavity therebetween at said first end ofsaid nail plate, said distal end and/or said sides of said nail receivedin said cavity at said first end and/or a pair of sides of said nailplate; and f) securing said nail plate to said nail.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein said nail plate placing step comprisesplacing an adhesive on said nail and/or in said cavity and said securingstep is accomplished by allowing said adhesive to set.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein said securing step is accomplished byinserting a connector through an aperture in said nail plate andthreadably engaging said connector with said nail.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17 further comprising the step of drilling afingernail aperture in said nail through a template aperture in saidtemplate after said template placing step, said fingernail aperturesized and configured to receive said connector.
 19. The method accordingto claim 15 further comprising the step of drilling a fingernailaperture in said nail through a template aperture in said template aftersaid template placing step, said securing step accomplished by a studmember extending generally downward from said nail plate into saidfingernail aperture.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein saidnail plate placing step comprises placing an adhesive on said nailand/or in said cavity and said securing step is further accomplished byallowing said adhesive to set.